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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-05-29, Page 1,•••=11010•110 rpherr,h9F,h hh‘Thhhhiftl7h4h7;:771 ' • ,11 epic NAL...a-STA 137 YEAR -22 ,T,,,WtTtAi:qr7rA.7.r.TPP".r7.W"W77r7',''5:'"7''?U.r — WM' A14 OYNI#tMUNITV NWW0111PAPRIFI IN CAN.AIPA Circulation CleaL35010 • 4500) C.C4A. Better Newppaper Competition 1984 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1985 A new water fountain on Hamilton Street was donated by the Dutch community in Goderich to the town m the newly -named Liberation Memorial Park on Friday night. The fountain pays tribute to the Canadian soldiers who helped liberate the Netherlands in the Second World War. (photo by Susan Hundertmark ) Dutch community recognizes soldiers with new fountain A prisoner of war for his involvement in the Dutch underground during the Second World War, Max Traas, of Campbellville gave his personal thanks to Canadian soldiers for his life at the ceremony at Liberation Memorial Park in Goderich Fri-. day night. "I wasn't too keen to speak at first butif it hadn't been for Canadian soldiers, may not be here right now," he told close to 70 members of the Goderich community and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109. The ceremony was held to donate a new water fountain and plaque on Hamilton Street to the town from Goderich's Dutch community in commemoration of the libera- tion of the Netherlands by Canadian soldiers 40 years ago. The fountain replaces a smaller one that was donated to the town 15 years ago for the same reason. After being jailed for four months in 1943 -for political crimes in a German concentra- tion camp, Traas said he saw the brutality of the Nazi regime up close. "I found that to resist was the only course I could take," he said. At 17, he and his father joined the Dutch underground which concentrated on helping find hiding places for as many Jews as possible and helping Dutch citizens resist who were made to work in German war factories and join the German army. After D -Day, the underground became more involved in paramilitary work by relaying information to England about troop movements and the sites of Vi and V2 laun- • riling sites that were airned-at Britain mid distributing small arms to members of the under round. "In one night we got a four ton drop of small arms and ammunition. When we found a suitable dropping Site, the informa- tion was relayed to England via radio and when the night was clear and the moon was full, .a Lancaster bomber came in ", . "We set out a line of flashlights and the bomber came over as slow as it could. It was a dangerous task because Holland was oc- cupied at the time and one night we heard the German infantry singing five or six miles away." "When the bomber, doors opened to drop the arms, it sounded likea boiler factory and the location of a drop became a death trap after it was used a number of times," he said. The underground also helped downed pilots and escaped prisoners get to England. "Once in the farm kitchen of my father's house, we had a truly international gang. • American, English, Polish, South African and French soldiers were all waiting . to be. transported across the line. Canadians were south of the river and they I the escapees had to cross the German line and fiope they weren't annihilated. It was dangerous but worthwhile," he said. In April, 1945, the Gestapo raided the farm that was the headquarters of the underground and arrested seven members including Traas and his father; they were put in jail until the capture of Germany. -4' "It was unusual that we were put in jail since usually if you were caught, you were shot without a trial," he said. Turn to page 2 Bob Kuperus and Randy Middel placed a wreath at the Goderich cenotaph on Friday night in memory of the Canadian soldiers who helped to liberate the Netherlands in the Second World War 40 years ago. The ceremony included the donation of a new water fountain to the town of Goderich 011 Hamilton Street. (photo Susan Hundertmark ) 11 MINIMIIIIIIIIIMM11111.11111.1.1161111.111 50 CENTS PER COPY , —4 Palmer says need for annexation is real. Despite claims that Goderich council is annexing land from Goderich township without a serious offer from an industry, Mayor Eileen Palmer said the town has received a legitimate inquiry. "I don't know exactly what it is and 1 haven't spoken with the principals yet but there is a very serious inquiry. We're mov- ing as fast as the process will allow and we plan to meet with the principals4in the very near future," she said Tuesday. "We're proceeding as if they were com- ing but whether it reaches fruition remains to be seen," she added. After a closed session of council in- cluding members of Goderich Township council and Don Taylor, a factfinder for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing at Goderich council's May 27 meeting, council passed a by-law authoriz- ing the ministry to initiate procedures of the Municipal Boundary Negiotiations Act. The procedures, which will take from four to 18 months, will possibly lead to the annexation of approximately 45 acres of land in Goderich Township owned by Donald Crich. Township Reeve Grant Stirling said his council has no objection to the annexation if certain conditions are met. "We don't want an industry that is bad for the environment or will do any harm to our subdivision near the land (in ques- tion). And, if the land sits idle, we certain- ly should have some compensation since we could have been getting taxes on it," he said on Tuesday. Stirling said his council members went along with the closed session at Goderich council Monday night because Taylor re- quested it. "They were trying to deal with the private owner of the land and that's their business," he said. 1 He also said -he has no idea what industry is interested in locating in the 45 acres. Coun. Searls, the only councillor at Mon- day's meeting who voted against the by- law said he hasn't been able to discover the name of the industry either. "I don't see committing taxpayers' , money to buy land when we don't even know if an industry's willing to locate in Goderich," he said on Tuesday. "The only people who've approached the town are from A.E. LePage Real Estate in Toronto and they go to a number of municipalities all over the place to see what's available." He also expressed displeasure at the method council may use to acquire land from the owner. Council may trade a parcel of land in Goderich for the parcel in the township. "If the town feels we need extra land, just buy it. I don't agree with the way they're doing it. To. me, it's not above board," he said. Before going into closed session on Mon- day night, Deputy Reeve Doherty asked why a closed session was necessary. "I'm not opposed if going into closed committee means we're going to talk about details but if I read the paper cor- rectly last week, the information is already public knowledge," he said. The recorded vote to go into closed ses- sion showed Coun. Searls and Deputy Reeve Doherty voting nay and Couns. Clif- ford, Cornish, McCauley and Mayor Palmer voting yea. The recorded vote for the by-law authorizing the initiation of procedure leading to annexation showed Coun. Searls voting nay and Couns. Clifford, Cornish, McCauley, Deputy Reeve Doherty and Mayor Palmer voting yea. Coun. Carey, Coun. Wheeler, and Reeve Worsell were absent from the meeting. Little Theatre must raise $100,000 to buy Livery. Goderich Little Theatre thought it had finally found a home in The Livery. But the relationship between GLT, The Livery and the community is threatened unless the group can raise -$100,000- within the next few weeks and purchase the former Polley's Livery Stable on South Street. And that's exactly what the executive and membership of the amateur theatre com- pany intends to do. While GLT had rented the facility for plays after MacKay Hall was converted to a senior citizens centre, the owners, the Goderich Performing Arts Foundation, defaulted on the mortgage and the building was put up for sale. At a special Meeting of canvassers Thursday, Betty Etue told the group that GI,T's offer to purchase was accepted and that $100,000 would have to be raised by June 15 or the Livery could be lost to the community. While the GLT's offer to purchase was ac- cepted, the group must now raise sufficient financing to buy the building outright. Etue told the group of canvassers that it would be wise to raise the $100,000 since the theatre company could then adequately handle an- nual maintenance and operating costs. "By June 15 we have to determine if we are in a position to buy the building," she said. "We can't operate with a significant mortgage." The building and property has been ap- praised at nearly $300,000 and if the GLT can Hie the pure price, which includes carrying charges, then it can comfortably continue to offer cultural events in the multi -use community facility. The executive told the group simply that the survival of Goderich Little Theatre is now linked to the Livery. In order to purchase the building, the group realizes it will have to raise a signifi- cant amount of money within its own organization. Eight teams of four people were organized to -canvass- --over-600 Goderich Little Theatre members and sym- pathizers. Only when sufficient funding is generated through the little theatre ranks, will the ex- ecutive make overtures to local business and corporations "We have to have evidence ef community support before we can seek Msiness and corporate help, " she said. For Goderich Little Theatre, the fund- raising efforts of the next few weeks are critical. The survival of the group is tied to the purchase of the Livery. Goderich Little Theatre has a tradition of excellence that dates back to 1945 and it hopes to continue that tradition of excellent entertainment in a permanent home. Organizers say that without the Livery, the group would have nowhere to turn. The group's fate initially rests with the membership and the donations from the over 600 members will determine GLT's subsequent course of action. Confident that the membership and com- munity will respond to the fund-raising ef- fort, GI,t has planned several events at The LiVery over the next few months. Children's theatre will be presented June 8, dinner theatre is planned for July and August, an antique show is tentatively scheduled for -Augat The Canadian RitThflWiit meet here as well as the Architectural Con- servancy Society and Little Theatre will present three plays for the 1985-86 season. Other uses pTanned for the Zufkling -in- clude music, dance, theatre, concerts, educational and corporate seminars . Average worker hit by btidget The average working citizen took the brunt of the federal budget presented last Thursday by Finance Minister Michael Wilson to Canadians in the opinion of Dennis Little of ABC Annuities in Goderich. "I think the guy that was hit the hardest was the worker at Champion or at the mine," he said. tittle recognized the benefit for farmers and small businesses in the local community resulting from the phasing in of the $500,000 lifetime exemptfon from capital gains tax. Goderich Business Improvement Association chairman, ('hris Kiar, thought the budget was not as severe as he had expected. "I think the final result was better than what we had been prepared for," said the local businessman, "but, it's a long-term budget, so it will probably be some time before We see any great effect as a result of this budget." The main criticism following the budget was the effect it will have on the average Canadian family who will be paying $350 to $500 extra in taxes in the corning year. "There's no doubt that the budget is going to hit us all somewhere," said Murray Cardiff, MP for Huron -Bruce. "Wilson has carefully balanced the impact of the budget measures to insure everyone carries their share of the burden." "We can be critical of any legislation brought forward," said Cardiff, "and this budget is not the answer to everything." No school for County until 1988 It will be at least 1988 before a Catholic high school is considered for Huron County. The Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board made its decision at the May 27 meeting. There was only one strong voice of ppposition. Wingham area trustee Vincent McInnes wants a Catholic high school in Huron so badly he said he would "almost guarantee" the additional number of students needed to make it a viable high school in Huron. "I can't see a two year delay7 I can't see any advantage, the funding's going to be there," said trustee McInnes. A survey of Huron County parents in April reveals that 44 students would enrol in grade nine in September of 1986. The 1986 date was originally recommended by the board's planning committee, but changed with the low number.a The board will look at a 1988 set-up date when the survey shows there could be 51 students. The committee originally planned to share high school facilities at the Huron County Board of Education's Clinton High School. Public meetings revealed this idea isn't popular with parents. Listowel area trustee Arthur liaid asked if Seaforth High School would be available by 1988. Vice chairman McInnes said a Catholic high school in Huron could have an effect on the Seaforth school. A week ago the board approved a high school for Perth County and on May 21 approved hiring a principal effective January 1986. The original recommendation was to hire a principal this September but concern for the cost of a principal's salary won out over the expressed need for principal to "sell" the Catholic high school in Perth. Boy hit by car in fair condition A nine-year-old Goderich boy is in fair condition, in Victoria Hospital, London, after running into the side of a car, early Tuesday morning. Michael Moffat, 9, of 220 Britannia Rd., E., received head injuries when he ran off the shoulder of the road and collided with the side of a moving vehicle. The accident occurred outside 124 Britannia Rd., at ap- proximately 8:40 a.m. Goderich Police Chief Patrick King, said that no charges were laid against the driver of the vehicle, a 72 -year-old Goderich woman. Moffat was taken to Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, then transferred to London. Chief King, said that a number of near misses have recently resulted from children running into the paths of vehicles. The Chief asks parents to remind their children about the dangers of walking near -motor vehicle traffic. INSIDE THE SGNAL-STA This budget is serving a definite purpose according to Cardiff in trying to reduce gross annual deficit. He said the farm crisis not approached in the budget will be dealt with separately. One disappointed Canadian was -Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Harry Pelissero. He said the unsp'cified $50 million a year cut in agricultural expenditures "is a slap in the face of an industry that desperately needs a helping hand. Farmers need opportunities to survive and grow in these difficult times." Pelissero was pleased, though, with the capital gains tax exemption which "will help many farmers retire with dignity." Thursday's budget means we will be digging deeper into our pockets if we drive, drink, smoke, wash our hair, or feed our pet. The increase of federal tax on gas, booze, cigarettes, shampoo, and pet food among other items is cause for concern to the average family. Tax-free contributions to the Registered Home Owners Savings Plan have been cancelled and existing plans will not be taxed if they are cashed in before the end tif this year. Federal spending on job creation and retraining programs will be trimmed by five per cent or about $100 million. Cardiff said the budget represents a realistic solution through "a balanced program of growth, better management, spending cuts and tax increases. WOSSA meet Schools from throughout the Western Ontaria gathered in Goderich for the an- nual WOSSA track and field meet last Wednesday and Thursday. Goderich thrower Joe Melady led the GDCI con- tigent with a double gold medal perfor- mance in shot put and discus. Story and photos in Recreation. Children's Theatre Children's Little Theatre, a Recreation Department program, is producing two plays which will be performed at the Livery, Saturday, June 8. Children are currently rehearsing the two productions and a story, with photo, appears on our Entertainment page. Lifestyle Award Connie Osborn, of Goderichls one of 26 Canadians who were rewarded for making remarkable and continuing contributions in promoting health and social services in thier communities on a voluntary basis.A Lifestyle Award and Certificate of Honor was recently presented to Connie by Health and Welfare Minister Jake Epp. Details and photo inside.